getting hitched?, Need some ladies advice here Options

[Rayme]

I'm at that point in life wherw me and the GF talks more and more about marriage. I don't have a problem with it I love her. But my main concern is all that is money related wise..specially the "stone".

To put things in perspective, we have 2 relatively new cars and a house, all which are not paied, I make under 30 000$ a year, she makes about 15% more than me annualy.

Cliff note, the girl wants a ring that is about 2000$+, she has that way of saying afford what you can but I'll be sad and disapointed if I get a 400$ ring.

Oh and by the way, I got the reputation of being cheap. That's the way I can afford a WRX with my salary, no really. I want to make sure that everyone knows I'm hovering the "paycheck to paycheck" situation.

Why does getting married be a money issue? Girls are so brainwashed into that one fairy tales day in their life. I'll say right now I'd like to get a cheaper ring and actually use that saved money toward something more practical. Her day is being added to the pressure saying a man should spend 2 months salary on a ring..yea thats like 4000$ or 80$ a month for 4 years. Actually I investigated that thought and found it to be a marketing ploy by a diamond company so I dont think much of it anymore.

Am I being cheap talking like that? I spent the 2 last years getting out of debt..I refuse to be slave to money problems. And then we have all those project..which would eventually be more $ spent..

need counseling